Fastening device for jewelry



April 30, 1940, a. ME STEKIN FASTENING DEVICE FOR JEWELRY 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Original Filed Feb. 10, 1938 I 3mm flernard/V April 1940- B. MESTEKINFASTENING DEVICE FOR JEWELRY Original Filed F515. 10, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet v 2 3 W0 Mm flernard Mask/iv Reissued Apr. 30, 1940FASTENING DEVICE FOR JEWELRY Bernard Mestekin, Washington, D. 0.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Reconstruction Finance Corporation,New York, N. Y., a corporation Original No. 2,133,901, dated October 18,1938, Serial No. 189,857, February 10, 1938. Application for reissueOctober 14, 1939, Serial No.

11 Claims.

This invention relates tofastening devices or looks for jewelry,particularly of the type of necklaces and bracelets, or other link,chain or rope type articles.

Such articles of jewelry are usually connected together by a claspprovided with a hook or spring snap, which fastening ordinarily snapsinto engagement with a body or socket member. Such hooks and snapsemployed in connection withjewelry are usually of relatively lightconstruction and thereby easily broken. In addition, they do not giveprotection against accidental or surreptitious uncoupling of theconnection, since the spring snaps and similar forms of catchesheretofore used are easily opened or detached.

Among the objects of the present invention is the production of a lockor fastening device for jewelry of the link type, particularly fornecklaces and bracelets, in which a simple structure affording positiveprotection against undesired uncoupling or segregation. of parts isprovided.

Other and further objects and advantages will appear from the moredetailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, thatthis more detailed description is given by way of illustration andexplanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changestherein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the present invention.

In connection with that more detailed description, there is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in Fig. 1, a top elevation of a fastening devicein accordance with the present invention; in Fig. 2, a side elevation ofa fastening device made in accordance with the present invention; inFig. 3, a fragmentary view of the device of Fig. 1, showing the lock inopen position; in Fig, 4, a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1; in Fig. 5,a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; in Fig. 6, a section on the line6-6 of Fig. 4; in Fig. '7, a top plan view of a modified form offastening device; in Fig. 8, a side elevation of the fastening device;in Fig. 9, a vertical section on line 99 of Fig. 7; in Fig. 10, a topplan view showing the cover in open position; in Fig. 11, a top planview showing the cover removed; in Fig. 12 a vertical section on lineI2I2 of Fig. 10; in Fig. 13, a transverse section on line I3I3 of Fig.8; and in Fig. 14, a plan view'of the cover member.

In accordance with the present invention as illustrated in the drawings,a lock or fastening device is utilized that is positive in its action,but readily utilizable for detachment of connected parts, thedevicebeing of simple construction.

In. accordance with the present invention as illustrated in thedrawings, a body member I of desirably elongated configuration isprovided, one end having the usual link element 2 constituting a link ofa chain or necklace or bracelet 3, the link element 2 being attached tothe body member I by more or less permanent fastening means, and thebody member I and link 2 remain preferably in permanent attachment. Forlooking the other end of the rope or chain or link element, the link 4is adapted to be received in a slot 5 formed in the body member I, theslot 5 extending to one face 6 of the body member I. In order to holdthe link 4 in position in the slot 5, a cover member 'I of configurationdesirably conforming with that of body I is. carried on the latter andadapted to reciprocate or swivel on the body member I, so that theelongated cover 'I may be swung to the open position, as shown in Fig.4, in order to expose the open end of the slot 5 and permit removal ofthe link 4 therefrom. Desirably the cover member I is spring pressed inits several positions in order to assure more positive action, and forthis purpose a spring member 8 carried on or in the body member I isprovided. In the construction shown, the cover I may be carried on ormade integral with a shaft 9 mounted in the body member I, the latterdesirably being hollow or recessed for purposes herein set forth. Theshaft 9 has an angular shank, such as III, which may desirably be squarein cross section, the furthermost end II of the shaft 9 being reduced insize and round to extend into an opening I2 in the base of a body memberI, and to serve as a link or swivel joint, a washer I 3 easing movementof the cover I, and the other end of the reduced end I I being swagedover the washer I3, as indicated at I4, in order to maintain the'partsin position. within the hollow body member I. The leaf spring 8 isdesirably placed with the sides l5 and I6 of the spring 8 engagingagainst the angular shank ID of the shaft 9, the spring 8 desirablyabutting at opposite ends of the hollow body portion, the outer ends ofthe leaf spring being cut away, as shown at I1, to conform with theconfiguration of the slot 5, and to permit insertion of the link 4 inthe slot 5.

A structure of the character described enables simple operation forattachment and detachment of the link 4 of the bracelet, necklace orsimilar article. For this purpose, cover member I is swung into the openposition, as illustrated in Fig. 3, so that the slot 5 is made availablefor reception of the link 4. The latter is placed in position in'theslot 5, and the cover I then returned to the closed position, so thatthe link is held in locked position. A structure of this character issimple to produce, and gives a positive lock of ornamental appearancedesirably utilizable with jewelry. The'lock or fastening device may bemade of any desired configuration and from any desired material, and mayvary in size and ornamentation, as well as configuration, to adapt it toany particular style of article of jewelry. There is no clasp or snap tobecome disengaged, and positive locking is accordingly secured againstaccidental detachment.

In the modified form of device shown in Figs. 7-14, 2. form of lock orfastening device is illustrated, which is more desirably used by beingplaced transverse of the bracelet, necklace, or similar article, whereasthe device of Figs. 1 to 6 more desirably forms part of the longitudinallink development.

In accordance with the modified form of lock or fastening deviceillustrated in Figs. 7-14, there is shown a body member 2| of desirablyelongated configuration placed transversely on a link element 22constituting a link of a chin, or necklace or bracelet 23, which linkelement 22 may be attached permanently to the body member 2 For lockingthe other end of the rope or chain or aggregate of links, the link 24 isprovided having a cut-out portion 3| forming T-shaped projections 35,having reduced portions 36, adapted to be inserted into the slots 25carried in a wall 26 of the desirably hollow body portion 2 When thereduced neck portions 36 of the link 24 are placed in the slots 25, theenlarged head members 35 of the T-shaped projections serve to hold thelink 24 in position. While two such T-shaped projections 35 are shown,together with two cooperating slots 25, it is apparent that the numberof such T-shaped projections and corresponding slots may be changed tosuit any particular set of circumstances, and one such projection andcorresponding slot may be employed, or three or more may be utilized,but two give a satisfactory result for structures of the characterillustrated. In order to prevent the link 24 from being detachedundesirably when placed in position in the slot 25, a cover member 21 isprovided, desirably conforming in configuration with that of body member2|, the cover being carried on the body 2| and adapted to reciprocate orswivel on said body member 2|, so that the elongated or other cover 21may be swung to open and closed positions as illustrated moreparticularly in Figs. 7 and of the drawings. When the cover is in theclosed position shown in Fig. 7 with the link member 24 placed inposition in the openings 25, the open ends of the openings are closed bythe cover member, so that the link cannot be detached. When the cover ismoved to the open position shown in Fig. 10, the T-shaped projection maybe removed from the slots 25, enabling the links to be detached.

Desirably the cover member 21 is spring pressed in order to insure morepositive action, and for this purpose a coil spring 28 is desirablyprovided and carried within the hollow body member 2|. For this purpose,the cover 21 is provided with a shaft 29 to which it is desirablyrigidly secured, so that the cover will reciprocate or move withmovements of the shaft 28. The body 2| is provided with a housing 31secured thereto and of hollow character to receive the coil spring 28.The housing 31 is attached to the body member 2|. An opening 39 in theupper face of the housing 31 permits the shaft 29 to extendtherethrough, so that the coil spring 28 surrounds the shaft 29 at itsshank portion 30, the latter being carried through a washer 33 andswaged at its end 34 to hold the parts in position. The base of the bodymember 2| is provided with an opening 32 in which the washer 33 maymove.

Desirably the under face of the cover 21 is provided with shouldersbetween which shoulders there is a recess 4| of a size adapted toreceive the housing 31 when the cover is in closed position, and theshoulders 40 are within the hollow portion of the body member 2|. Theshoulders 40 are desirably provided with bevelled edges 42, so that whenthe cover is moved from closed position to open position, the bevellededges of the shoulders 40, 40 rise up on the edges of the body member 2|to compress the coil spring 28 within the housing 31 as particularlyshown in Fig. 12, so that the cover is held rigidly in position by, thecoiled spring 23. In the closed position, as particularly illustrated insection in Fig. 13, the shoulders 40 drop down into the hollow bodymember, the recess 4| receiving the upper portion of the housing 31, thespring 28 urging the cover into such closed position and maintaining theparts rigidly against accidental displacement. Desirably the cover maybe provided with knobs 43 to enable it to be moved readily from oneposition to the other.

The operation of this modified form of lock or fastening device will beobvious from the constructions described above, whereby it will be seenby either of the devices illustrating the invention of the present case,positive locking against accidental or surreptitious displacement of thelink element is avoided.

What I claim is:

1. A fastening device for necklaces, bracelets and similar articles ofjewelry comprising a hollow, walled body member one wall of which isprovided with an open ended slot extending to one face of said bodymember, a spring housed within said hollow body member, a cover membercarried on said body member and reciprocable thereon to expose and closesaid slot, means integral with said cover member in engagement andco-acting with the spring to retain the cover member either in the openor closed position.

2. A fastening device for necklaces, bracelets and similar articles ofjewelry comprising a body member provided with an open ended slotextending to one face of said body member, a shaft mounted for rotationon said body member, said shaft having an angular shank, a leaf springon said body member, side portions of the spring pressing against theangular shaft, a cover member for the body, said cover being mounted onsaid shaft and rotatable therewith to expose and close said slot.

3. A fastening'device for necklaces, bracelets and similar articles ofjewelry comprising an elongated hollow body member provided with an openended slot extending to one face of said body member, a shaft mountedfor rotation on said body member, said shaft having an angular shankpositioned within the hollow portion of the body member, a leaf springwithin said hollow body member, side portions of the spring pressingagainst the angular shaft, an elongated cover member for the body, saidcover being mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith to expose andclose said slot.

4. A fastening device for necklaces, bracelets and similar articles ofjewelry comprising an 1 elongated hollow body member provided with openended slots extending to one face of said body member, a shaft mountedfor rotation within the hollow portion of said body member, a covermember mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith to open and closethe hollow portion of the body member and thereby to close or open theslot in the face of said body member, a coiled spring surrounding saidshaft and within the hollow body member and means integral with saidcover member in engagement and co-acting with the spring to retain thecover member either in the open or closed position.

5. A fastening device for necklaces, bracelets and similar articles ofjewelry comprising an elongated hollow body member provided with openended slots extending to one face of said body member, a shaft mountedfor rotation within the hollow portion of said body member, a covermember mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith to open and closethe hollow portion of the body member and thereby to close or open theslot in the face of said body mem her, said shaft having a shoulderplate at its lower end, the hollow body member having an apertured platereceiving said shaft and spaced above said shoulder plate, and a coiledspring surrounding said shaft and disposed between said plates, saidcover member having cam-like portions on its lower face adapted to rideonto said apertured plate when the cover is moved from the closed to theopen position.

6. A fastening device for necklaces, bracelets and similar articles ofjewelry comprising, a hollow body member provided with an open-endedslot extending to one face of said body member, a cover rotatablymounted on said body member and rotatable to open and close the slot, aspring within the body member, and means rotatable with said cover inconstant engagement with and co-acting with the spring to retain thecover member at least in a closed position, said means permitting thecover to remain in open position when manually moved to such position.

'7. A fastening device for necklaces, bracelets and similar articles ofjewelry comprising, a hollow body member provided with an open endedslot extending to one face of said body member, a cover member having ashaft by which it is rotatably mounted on the body member to open orclose the slot, and a spring within the body member and co-acting withthe shaft to retain the cover member in a closed position, the coactionbetween the spring and shaft permitting the cover to remain in openposition when manually moved to such position.

8. A fastening device for necklaces, bracelets and similar articles ofjewelry comprising, a hollow body member provided with an open-endedslot extending to one face of said body member, a cover member rotatablymounted on the body member to open or close the slot, a projectionextending from the cover member into the body member, and a springhoused within the body member and in constant engagement with andoperative against said projection to retain the cover member in a closedposition, and permitting the cover member to remain in open positionwhen manually moved to such position.

9. A fastening device for articles of jewelry comprising, a hollow,walled body member, one wall of which is provided with an open-endedslot extending to the face of said body member, a cover member mountedon the body member and rotatable thereon to expose and close said slot,means for retaining the cover member in at least a closed position, saidmeans comprising a spring and a co-operating flat-sided shaft againstwhich the spring bears, one of said means being contained within thebodymember and the other means being carried by and reciprocable withthe cover member.

10. A fastening device for articles of jewelry comprising, a hollow bodymember having an open-top slot, a cover member centrally pivoted on saidbody member, said cover member having a square shaft extending into thebody member and pivotally attaching it to the body member, said shaftbeing pivotal with the cover member and a spring contained within thebody member and bearing against the square shaft to hold the covermember in the position of either closing the slot or exposing the opentop of the same.

11. A fastening device for articles of jewelry comprising, a body memberprovided with an open-top slot, a cover member rotatably mounted on saidbody member and movable to close or open the slot, co-operating elementsfor holding the cover member at least in closed position, saidco-operating elements comprising a U-shaped spring and a fiat-sidedmember disposed between the legs of the spring and against which saidlegs bear, one of said elements being carried by and rotatable with thecover member and the other element being carried by the body member.

BERNARD MESTEKLN.

